Pony rides, gingerbread village and Santa on a motorcycle at Stroudsmoor

What started out as just a small holiday celebration with a six-foot tree 24 years ago is now a large celebration boasting a 70-foot tree with 150,000 white lights.

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By MELANIE VANDERVEER

poconorecord.com

By MELANIE VANDERVEER

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By MELANIE VANDERVEER
Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 24th annual Tree Lighting Celebration

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Stroudsmoor Country Inn, 231 Stroudsmoor Road, Stroudsburg

COST: Free parking and event, food ...

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: 24th annual Tree Lighting Celebration

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Stroudsmoor Country Inn, 231 Stroudsmoor Road, Stroudsburg

COST: Free parking and event, food available for purchase

INFORMATION: 570-421-6431, stroudsmoor.com

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What started out as just a small holiday celebration with a six-foot tree 24 years ago is now a large celebration boasting a 70-foot tree with 150,000 white lights.

Stroudsmoor Country Inn is presenting its annual tree lighting celebration on Sunday. What began as a celebration for the children of Stroudsmoor has turned into a day of holiday fun for the whole community.

"It originally started out when our children here at Stroudsmoor were really tiny. We lit one small tree and invited some neighbors and local guests. Each year, more and more people wanted to come, so it grew," said Linda Forte, director of event operations. "The event is indoors and outdoors. We have a lot of buildings here, and activities are planned inside and out."

Some of the day's activities include a petting zoo, pony rides, live entertainment, Christmas carols, gingerbread village, art show and boutique and, of course, a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"A Walk in the Woods" art show by Susan Bernadette Lebel will take place in the Auradell event facility. Lebel has an art show with a different theme each year.

"This is the fourth annual art show. 'A Walk in the Woods' is a metaphor for the stories in our lives," Lebel said. "We'll have over 50 pieces and a small boutique from 12 to 4 p.m."

Everything at the art show is for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity. Lebel will also be on hand to answer questions during the show.

The kids in the family will have plenty of holiday fun to enjoy throughout the day.

"There will be horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and lots of characters walking around," Forte said. "There will also be an activity tent to make ornaments, and the bakery is bringing seasonal cookies and gingerbread."

The gingerbread village is created by Stroudsmoor Inn Towne and is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide.

"The gingerbread village is created by our bakers at Stroudsmoor Inn Towne. Jessica Hicks is the executive baker. She designs it, and all her elves create the different parts of it," said Lebel, who is also the lead floral designer for Stroudsmoor. "She also sells gingerbread houses by the hundreds."

Hicks and her team of 15 to 20 bakers each get a piece of the gingerbread village to construct. It takes about a week from start to finish for the individual pieces.

"Every year, we try to have something different. It's a traditional village with gingerbread men, houses, ski business, bakery and a few businesses," Hicks said. "It takes a week for all the pieces to be made, and then we all come together and set it up on plywood. It's nice that we can do something creative and as a team."

While kids know that Santa typically enjoys traveling by sled, his visit to Stroudsmoor will have him traveling by a different form of transportation.